Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-01

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people have decided to reduce the number of times they fly every year or to stop flying altogether.

Do you think the environmental benefits of this development outweigh the disadvantages for individuals and businesses?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

In many countries, schools close for two months or longer during the summer. Although long holidays can provide several benefits for students, shorter school breaks may also have important advantages. This essay will discuss both views.

There are several reasons why long school holidays are valuable. Firstly, students need sufficient time to relax after a long academic year. Studying continuously can be tiring, and a lengthy break allows children to recover both physically and mentally. For example, students can spend more time with their families, travel to different places or participate in sports and hobbies. Secondly, long holidays can provide opportunities for children to learn outside the classroom. They may visit museums, read books, attend summer camps or develop practical skills that are not normally taught at school. Therefore, a substantial summer break can contribute to students’ overall development.

On the other hand, shorter school holidays have some clear advantages. One major argument is that students are less likely to forget what they have learned. After being away from school for several months, children may need considerable time to remember academic material when they return. Shorter breaks could help them maintain a regular learning routine and reduce this problem. In addition, shorter holidays may be more convenient for working parents, who may find it difficult to arrange childcare during a long summer vacation. Schools could also provide additional learning opportunities during shorter breaks, particularly for students who need extra academic support.

In my view, both types of holidays have benefits, but a long summer break is useful because children need adequate time to rest and pursue activities beyond their studies. However, schools could reduce the negative effects of a long vacation by providing optional reading or educational activities during the break.

In conclusion, long holidays give students valuable opportunities to relax, spend time with their families and develop new interests, whereas shorter holidays can help maintain academic progress and make childcare easier for parents. A balanced school calendar should therefore provide sufficient rest while preventing students from becoming disconnected from their studies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response is largely off-topic, as it discusses the advantages and disadvantages of long versus short school holidays rather than addressing the prompt regarding reducing air travel and its environmental benefits versus disadvantages for individuals and businesses. Because the content does not answer the specific question set in the prompt, the response receives a low score for task achievement. Although the writing is structured like an essay and presents ideas clearly, it fails to address the required task entirely, representing a fundamental misunderstanding of the prompt's subject matter. To achieve a higher score, the writer must carefully read the essay prompt, identify the core theme—in this case, the environmental impact of reducing flights—and ensure all arguments directly relate to the specified topic.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear, logical structure. The essay is divided into an introduction, body paragraphs addressing different perspectives, a personal viewpoint, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately and sufficiently to separate distinct ideas, such as the benefits of long holidays versus shorter holidays. Cohesive devices are employed to guide the reader through the text, using transition signals like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion can sometimes feel a bit mechanical. To reach the next band, the writer could make transitions even more fluid and ensure that the progression of ideas from sentence to sentence feels entirely natural and unobtrusive rather than relying on formulaic signposts.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'continuous academic year', 'practical skills', and 'academic material'. The word choice is generally clear and communicates meaning effectively, with only occasional inaccuracies that do not impede the reader. The response shows some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'reduce the negative effects' and 'maintain a regular learning routine'. To move further into higher band territory, the writer needs to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of vocabulary, incorporating more sophisticated, uncommon lexical chunks and idiomatic language with precise control over word choice and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a strong command of grammar and punctuation, comfortably sitting in the higher band. There is a good variety of complex sentence forms used throughout the essay, such as conditional and concessive structures like 'Although long holidays can provide several benefits...' and '...working parents, who may find it difficult...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, showing good control of verb forms, tenses, subject-verb agreement, and articles. A few minor errors persist, but they rarely impede communication. To maintain and fully secure this high standard across an even wider range of complex structures, the writer should continue to polish punctuation and ensure absolute precision in intricate grammatical patterns.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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